Mayor Bang Sehwan: "Neoreungol Natural Recreation Forest Will Become Gwangju's New Healing Hub"

Mayor Bang Sehwan Breaks Ground for Neoreungol Natural Recreation Forest
Opening Scheduled for June 2027... A New Healing Hub for Gwangju
A Premium Healing Destination Connecting Citizens' Daily Lives with Nature Expected

Gwangju City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Bang Sehwan) held a groundbreaking ceremony on the 17th for the "Neoreungol Natural Recreation Forest (Healing Town) Development Project," which is being promoted to expand citizen rest and recreation spaces and provide forest welfare services based on forest experiences.

Bong Se-hwan, Mayor of Gwangju City, is delivering a greeting speech at the groundbreaking ceremony of the "Neoreungol Natural Recreation Forest (Healing Town) Development Project," which is being promoted to expand citizen rest and recreation spaces and provide forest welfare services based on forest experiences. Photo by Gyeonggi Gwangju City

The ceremony was attended by Mayor Bang Sehwan, National Assembly members So Byunghoon and Ahn Taejoon, City Council Chairman Heo Kyunghaeng, provincial and city council members, as well as heads of local organizations and institutions, who gathered to celebrate the official launch of the natural recreation forest project.

They also called for the timely completion of the project and pledged to join forces to successfully establish the forest recreation infrastructure.

The "Neoreungol Natural Recreation Forest (Healing Town)" will be developed on a 400,000-square-meter forest area in 279-1, Usan-ri, Toechon-myeon, with a total investment of 47.9 billion won, aiming for completion in June 2027. The project received designation approval from the Korea Forest Service in May 2021, followed by approval for the development plan from Gyeonggi Province in July 2024, and has now commenced construction.

Participants including Bang Se-hwan, Mayor of Gwangju City, are taking a commemorative photo at the groundbreaking ceremony of the "Neoreungol Natural Recreation Forest (Healing Town) Development Project," which is being promoted to expand citizen rest and relaxation spaces and provide forest welfare services based on forest experiences. Provided by Gyeonggi Gwangju City

The natural recreation forest will feature accommodations such as "Forest House" and "Emotional Cabin," a forest education (healing) center, a visitor center, a campground, and other multi-purpose recreation spaces. The city plans to establish this site as a forest recreation hub for both citizens and tourists from the greater Seoul metropolitan area.

Mayor Bang Sehwan stated, "Neoreungol Natural Recreation Forest is not just a leisure facility, but will become 'Gwangju's new healing hub' that connects citizens' daily lives with nature," adding, "Through ecological, educational, and leisure sports programs, we will make it a beloved and premium healing destination for our citizens."

Bang Se-hwan, mayor of Gwangju City, is delivering a greeting speech at the groundbreaking ceremony of the "Neoreungol Natural Recreation Forest (Healing Town) Development Project," which is being promoted to expand citizen rest and recreation spaces and provide forest welfare services based on forest experiences. Provided by Gyeonggi Gwangju City

Meanwhile, the city plans to gradually expand adventure and forest play facilities, and to create a stay-type tourism belt linked with nearby regional tourism assets such as Cheonjinam, Namhansanseong, and the Ceramic Museum, thereby contributing to revitalizing the local economy.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.